The best chocolatiers Bruxelles - Brussel

Since 1998, the company has been offering more than 80 chocolates and about forty different sweets. For the former, the coatings and fillings are all made in the workshop, without any preservatives. The coatings are designed to be very fine, to best serve the taste of the filling. Mainly classic but with some original breakthroughs! Pralines, ganaches, truffles, marzipan, tablets, fine flavored tablets, mendiants, florentines, orangettes, fruit jellies... Less known than the international brands, Passion Chocolat is nevertheless at the top.

This former apothecary was responsible for theinvention of the praline, a small filled chocolate bite designed in 1912. And with his persistence in ideas, we also owe him the patent of the ballottin, a receptacle perfectly adapted to contain these sweets! It all started at this address, Galerie de la Reine, in this magnificent shop. His know-how in the field of luxury chocolates and biscuits seduced many, including the Belgian court (of which Neuhaus is a patented supplier). His success now extends to the whole world.

The shop welcomes real chocolate lovers. There are some amazing sweet and sour tastings (based on the ingredients and spices used in the chocolates): terrines, burgers (meatloaf, home-made dried fruits, candied onions, cocoa sauce), rillettes (cocoa touch), tarts (sweet). Laurent Gerbaud draws his inspiration from his distant travels! To be discovered in a magnificent tea-room with a vast terrace that makes you want to spice up your next chocolate mousse with delicate spices. Workshops on Saturdays (reservation required).

Kenny Vandenhende and Marc Lindekensde's atelier-boutique was born of an original concept. The former is a chocolatier, the latter an ice-cream maker, and together they explore these two worlds with passion and talent. There's no fuss here, just top-quality raw materials, a warm, professional welcome and a focus on customer satisfaction. In the mixed-race neighborhood of La Chasse, the results are exotic, like this ras el hanout praline. Also worth discovering: a trompe-l'oeil of chocolate French fries. Original and as addictive as the real thing.

Tradition takes pride of place in this house founded in 1919 by Marie Delluc, and a "patented supplier to the Court of Belgium" since 1942! Here, natural ingredients and pure cocoa butter chocolate without additives. Among the assortment of pralines, we fall for the Mary (fondant praline, nougatine) and the Lady (four dark chocolate mousse pralines with equal degrees of bitterness). There are around 125 chocolates, including a range of 75 pralines. True to its spirit, the Rue Royale boutique welcomes customers in a charming retro atmosphere.

Léonidas is a historic reference for Belgian chocolate. The first store in central Brussels (1913), rented by Basile Kestekides, had no door. A bizarre layout that forced the tenant to enter through the window and use the outside shelf as a counter. The best ideas are sometimes the result of a funny situation! By the way, let's not forget that Leonidas is industrially produced (like many other brands that pretend otherwise) and as such can boast the best value for money on the market!

Since 1932, the brand has offered a renowned collection of chocolates, faithful to the original recipes. Also emblematic, the central boutique, among other addresses in Brussels, is superbly installed. It is adorned with visual assets highlighting the products created by this chocolate maker. The chocolates are prepared according to the rules of the art and the best added products (dairy butter, hazelnuts from Piedmont, almonds from Faro). The cocoa butter is pure; the whole production, made by about fifty chocolate makers, is guaranteed without GMO.

In his workshop, Frédéric Blondeel pushes the boundaries of chocolate. More discreet than most, he is one of Brussels' finest chocolatiers. A roaster himself, he makes sure his cocoa is of the highest quality, thanks in particular to the machine he inherited from his grandfather. His trademark? The herbs and spices that enhance his creations. In the boutique, you'll find his chocolates and champagnes from small producers. In the tea room: pralines, cookies and pastries, hot chocolate and ice creams made by Frédéric himself.

Artisanal chocolate factory located in the heart of Schaerbeek, founded in 1972! As Easter, St. Nicholas' Day or Valentine's Day approaches, the shop window and display are adorned with classic shimmering attractions that literally grab the passer-by inside the store. Hollows, pralines, decorated or undecorated casts... everything here is a happy reminder of the carefree hours of a childhood not always as far away as one might think. Marzipan and jelly, among other things, are other colourful "madeleines". A classic to be absolutely preserved!

Behind Xocolate is Xavier Declercq who launched his chocolate factory in 2019. All ingredients are organic and fair trade. No wonder this is important to him since Xavier worked for 33 years at OXFAM. In his Schaerbeek store, everything is handmade and you can see the workshop at the back. As for the chocolates, there are the classics: ganache, speculoos, Liège syrup, rum and grapes and other more daring creations with herbs and spices (lemongrass, coriander, cardamom...). His chocolates are powerful but not bitter. A delight!

A little different from the usual assortment of Belgian chocolatiers, the Planète Chocolat assortment offers many personalized products, traditional in manufacture and unusual in design. For example, there are a multitude of themed boxes suitable for all ages and occasions. Don't miss the guided tours of the workshop organised at the weekend (info on the website). It is also possible to book workshops to become a budding chocolatier (also see website).